Indian President Visits Belgium

The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, has made an official visit to Belgium between October 2nd and 5th. This is the first official visit made by a President of India to Belgium. It follows the state visit made by King Albert and Queen Paola to India last year.

The President was welcomed at Military Airport Melsbroek at Brussels by King Philippe. It was described as a rare gesture of His Majesty to come to the tarmac of the airport to receive the President.

The next day the President was accorded a ceremonial reception at Egmont Palace Brussels. He was received by the Prime Minister of Belgium, Elio Di Rupo, and a guard of honour was presented.

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On October 4th, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz received President Mukherjee for a meeting and a lunch at the Royal Palace in Brussels. Speaking at the lunch, the King recalled his multiple economic missions to India. He also fondly remembered the days he went backpacking as a youth in Bengal, the home state of the President.

This is the first public speech by the King, and incidentally, it happend to be in English.

Later in the day, they jointly inaugurated Europalia India Festival at the Palais des Beaux-Arts and visited the exhibition “Body of India” together.